Two of the eight species of turtle that live in Ontario, spotted and wood turtles, are classified as endangered. Others are considered “at risk.”

Brooks says because of the risk from poaching, researchers take precautions in their work, such as remaining vague about the location of turtle populations in studies and reports.

“Traffickers read the reports and read scientific publications to find out where the turtles are," he said.

Meanwhile, smugglers import other species of turtles to sell as pets in Ontario.

Studies suggest wildlife smuggling is a global industry earning as much as $30 billion US per year, though Environment Canada spokesman Mark Johnson said there is no information on its profitability in Canada due to the "complex, multinational and covert nature of wildlife crime."

A man from Cobden, Ont., between North Bay and Ottawa, was earlier this year fined $5,000 and sentenced to a six-month conditional sentence for importing turtles across the U.S. border.

Joe Crowley, who is an at-risk species specialist at the Ministry of Natural Resources and part of the Canadian Herpetological Society, said the ministry's enforcement officers have been involved in several "large international investigations."